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Point and Shoot
R2 - United Kingdom - Kaleidoscope Home Entertainment Review written by and copyright: Samuel Scott (18th February 2015). |
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The Film
 ***This is an A/V and Extras review only. For reviews on the movie from various critics, we recommend visiting HERE.*** In 2006, Matt VanDyke, a timid 28-year-old with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, left home in Baltimore and set off on a self-described “crash course in manhood”. He bought a motorcycle and a video camera and began a three-year, 35,000-mile motorcycle trip through Northern Africa and the Middle East. While traveling, he struck up an unlikely friendship with a Libyan hippie, and when revolution broke out in Libya, Matt joined his friend in the fight against dictator Muammar Gaddafi. With a gun in one hand and a camera in the other, Matt fought in -- and filmed -- the war until he was captured by Gaddafi forces and held in solitary confinement for six months. Two-time Academy Award nominated documentary filmmaker, Marshall Curry, tells this harrowing and sometimes humorous story of a young man’s struggle for political revolution and personal transformation.
Video
Independent British distributor Kaleidoscope Home Entertainment continue with their schedule of documentary releases (many of which, including this one, have featured as episodes on BBC's critically acclaimed "Storyville") by releasing "Point and Shoot". Presented in a mix of 1.78:1 (anamorphic), 1.78:1 (non-anamorphic), and 1.33:1, the transfer here is good, but no better than average. Now let us get straight to the point. The majority of footage was shot single-handedly by Matt VanDyke who had no filming experience previous to capturing his experiences travelling across Africa. With that in mind, he has done a pretty good job in getting footage from some cracking angles in some very precarious and dangerous environments. Unfortunately, the quality of the footage is what you would expect - amateur - though it doesn't cause a particularly negative impact on the footage. There are numerous sources of archive footage here too. Old home videos towards the beginning of the documentary showing Matt VanDyke are presented full screen and suffer from the issues that come with old home camcorder footage. There are also several snippets from various news avenues including Fox News, and some of these are presented 1.78:1 non-anamorphic but are without issue. Details are pretty average, though the highlights are some of the long shots across the desert locations which often show strong levels of clarity for rocks and patterns in the sand. Facial close-ups are okay, though lack a certain level of sharpness. There are no major blemishes or issues to worry about with the transfer, it just isn't anything to shout home about. However, when you consider the situations and VanDyke's lack of experience, then a lot of the issues are forgivable. The documentary is uncut and runs 79:48.
Audio
Two audio options are included: - English Dolby Digital 5.1 - English Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo For my viewing, I opted for the English Dolby Digital 5.1 track which is a simple upmix of the stereo option where the score is a little better utilised, and some gun fire and explosions receive higher levels of channel separation. The LFE is generally pretty quiet but does become involved during some of the scenes of war. The audio here isn't bad, but there are some issues. Although dialogue is understandable throughout, it isn't always clear, with either a slight echo or some minor hiss and crackle, almost certainly down to the equipment used and inexperience of VanDyke. The 5.1 is perhaps overkill for a documentary, but the score aids the feature in becoming more enveloping. No subtitles have been included.
Extras
Nothing of note. Start-up Trailers: - "We Are the Giant" (2:06) - "Which Way Is the Front Line from Here?" (0:46) Theatrical Trailer (2:08)
Overall
Another solid documentary from Kaleidoscope. Although there are some issues with the A/V, don't let that stop you from picking this one up if you're interested in the subject matter.
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